Helping secure the Indo-Pacific against nuclear terrorism

During my attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague I announced Australia will contribute A$1 million to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) Nuclear Security Fund (NSF).

This contribution will be used to support the IAEA’s activities in the Indo-Pacific region, including assisting regional partners to establish effective and sustainable national nuclear security regimes, strengthening nuclear security cooperation through regional and bilateral programs and assisting states to adhere to relevant international nuclear security agreements.

Australia has a proud record of achievement in promoting and strengthening global nuclear security and in enhancing international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regimes.

Australia has been twice rated first in the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s assessment of nuclear security in countries with significant holdings of nuclear material.

I will continue to promote Australia’s nuclear security, non-proliferation and disarmament objectives, when I participate in the next Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) ministerial meeting in Hiroshima in April. The 12 member cross-regional initiative, established by Australia and Japan, seeks to achieve substantive progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.